As I wrote last week, travelling makes the world seem
smaller, and sometimes helps me understand what’s happening internationally. The downside is that sometimes
it means my heart is breaking as I read the news.

This week, Istanbul's Taksim Square has been in the headlines. What began as a protest against the removal
of trees from a city park has turned into a widespread protest against the
government, and a subsequent crackdown on the demonstrators. And what might be just
another international story becomes personal as I remember our family
stopping in Taksim Square on an ordinary day to feed the pigeons. From there, we walked down the beautiful
Istiklal Caddesi, a shopping street open only to pedestrians. It was a Sunday afternoon, and as tourists we were in the minority; it was very much an area where
the locals came to shop. Lined with bookstores, boutiques and restaurants, it was lovely yet familiar. We could
have eaten at McDonald’s if we wanted (we didn’t). A tram ran up the middle of the street for anyone who chose not to walk.

Istanbul is a city with glorious antiquity. We'll never forget visiting Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and many other wonderful reminders of the past. But we were delighted to spend a few hours in the modern section, rubbing shoulders with the people who actually live and work in the city.

A city that is now holding its breath, waiting to see what happens next.

Traveling does expand your world...and also makes your heart more vulnerable to breaking. I went to Egypt one year before all the violence erupted. I remember having similar feelings. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us Beth. It makes us all more aware of the world we live in!

These are crazy times!Your post resonated with me since I was equally as heartbroken to read of the problems in beautiful Istanbul right now. It's truly a lovely city, so gorgeous and the Turkish are such warm, friendly people. Hoping things look up for them soon!

The way I look at it is this: you saw it at its best. It makes me sad to read what's going on in our world but you have the memories. Your travels are a wonderful education for your children and we reap the benefits with your posts.